News
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Big crowds and long waits at Phuket airport after runway closure
PHOTO reprinted with permission from Pimmie Pimpathu The closure of runway 09 resulted in a big back-up of ‘not happy’ passengers waiting for their delayed flights. The runway fix started early morning yesterday (February 26) and finished at 6.30am this morning as planned. However, there are a large number of remaining passengers as the relative authorities reshuffle arrival and departure times…
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Search continues for missing Chinese tourist off Phang Nga coast
Officials are continuing their search off Phang Nga Sea for a Chinese tourist who was swept away by a big wave and went missing on Friday evening. Officials from the Phang Nga disaster prevention and mitigation office, sailors from the Navy’s Phang Nga base, marine police and Kusoltham Phuket Foundation rescuers resumed the search for 27 year old Yang Juan…
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More than 100 new political parties poised to launch next month
PHOTO: Suthep Thaugsuban by Attayuth Bootsripoom More than 100 new political parties are expected to launch next month after registration opens on Friday. It will be the first time since the military coup in May 2014 that political activities will be officially allowed. A junta order signed by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha last December allows new political parties to…
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Foreigner’s body found in Kathu
The body of a foreigner has been found in a jungle near an old tin mine in Kathu. The police received a report at 9:30am this morning, leading to the discovery of a foreigner who was hung on a tree. No trace of a fight or violence was found on his body. The man was wearing a green and blue…
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Phuket Airport Runway 09 closed for repairs
Runway 09 at the Phuket International Airport was closed today, February 26, and will be closed again tomorrow from 2 am – 7am for fixing cracks in the runway surface. There are small cracks in an are covering 9 square metres while there is another 84 square metres area between the runway and the taxiway that requires repair attention. PIA…
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Patong Prawn Fraud. Price-gouging in Patong restaurant.
Phuket’s Tourist Police have arrested the owners of an overpriced restaurant named ‘6 Restaurants’, located in Patong, after receiving reports from more than 19 Chinese tourists. Apart from the reports, photos from the restaurant also went viral in Chinese social media about the over-priced prawn dish of 300 baht per 100 grams (3,000 baht per kilogram!) The report mentioned that…
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Brake failure causes a bus to crash into 6 cars on Patong Hill
At about 2 pm yesterday (February 25), a bus suffered alleged brake failure, crashing into 6 cars in front of the temple down Patong Hill, resulting in one injury. The bus damaged 6 cars including 2 vans, a Toyota car, 2 Nissans and a Mazda pick-up truck. All the cars were driving in front of the bus driven by 40…
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January by numbers – Car registrations and tourist numbers up
The Land Transport Department has reported 268,989 new cars and motorcycles for January 2018. This included 167,039 motorcycles, 63,646 sedans, 24,117 pickup trucks, 1,129 7-seat-plus cars, 939 buses operating on fixed routes, 724 buses which do not operate on fixed routes and 5,731 trucks, according to Thai PBS. That pushes the total number of registered vehicles in Thailand to 38,428,304.…
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Waste-to-energy plant protests in Krabi
The Baan Nai Chong preservation group are protesting a new waste-to-energy plant over the future health impact on their community. The power plant is planned to be built at the local landfill of Krabi Municipality, which is nearby their community. The signs have been installed since yesterday (February 23) under the leadership of group president, Warrant Officer 1st Class Panya Hiran.…
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COMMENT: We’re a LONG way from May 2014
EDITORIAL We should put the current protests in Bangkok into perspective. Firstly, they’re very localised, both in geographics and demographics. The protesters, apart from a few hard core ’professional protesters’ who seem to appear at any march or placard-waving event, are mostly students. More, mostly students from Thammasat University. That shouldn’t dilute the importance of their message but the protests…
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We’re going to see more of the three-fingered salute
Thai PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha said he will call a meeting of relevant parties to discuss and decide an appropriate and acceptable date for the next general election. The public in recent weeks has witnessed a series of delays in the passing and enforcing of laws and other legal manoeuvres that have raised doubts over the timing of the next…
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Better driving license procedures for foreigners on the way
The Department of Land Transport has partnered with British Embassy Bangkok to improve driving licence procedures for foreign nationals across Thailand. The improvements will focus on guidelines for obtaining a licence, how to prepare for the driving test, raising awareness of specific risks on the road unique to Thailand, and recaps on internationally recognised driving standards. Deputy director general of…
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Spate of attacks in the deep south ahead of visit to discuss southern security
There’s been a spate of violence in the south last night with houses, shops, checkpoints and security bases coming under attack in all three of the deep south provinces – Songkhla, Pattani and Narathiwat. In all, there were more than 10 incidents – car tyres burning, shootings and houses and shop being set on fire. With no injuries reported security…
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Cobra Gold skews military focus away from China
By Wasamon Audjarint Against the background of China’s increasing power and assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific, the United States is seeking to intensify Cobra Gold, the largest regional joint military exercise, that is annually hosted by Thailand. “I believe that Cobra Gold should look for ways to increase the complexity and scope of the exercise every year because we work closely…
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Local administrative organisations to take over lifeguard contracts
Phuket’s Governor, Norapat Plodthong, says that the local administration organisations will take control of the lifeguard hiring budget instead of the Provincial Administrative Organisation (OrBorJor) to avoid the problems with the annual lifeguard contract and beach safety. “Especially this year, there has been a lot of people drowning at our beaches during the time we didn’t have an effective lifeguard…
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Making Phuket a special administrative region
Business enterprises in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga have put a proposal to the Tourism and Sports Ministry to make Phuket a special administrative region. Phuket authorities and the heads of tourism-related organisations gathered at the Beyond Resort Kata. The meeting was to address the administrative problems and obstacles that affect the tourism in the region whilst it continues to…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, February 23
Greenpeace demands something is done about BKK air quality | Premchai doesn’t turn up to yesterday’s interview with police | A lift falls at Maxx Hotel in capital | Woman lied about Taxi driver attack | Driveway dispute forces closure of nearby markets | Pick-up hits elephant | Chinese tourist falls off Kamala villa rooftop.
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Krabi Social Insurance Office provides support for King Poseidon captain
The Chief of Krabi Social Insurance Office, Pornthep Sripaiboon, together with officials from the Krabi Labour Office, visited Kiengsak Boonsri, the captain of King Poseidon speedboat, which exploded in front of the Viking cave off Koh Phi Phi Ley two months ago. He has been in hospital ever since. Video of boat fire HERE. The team granted 7,002 Baht in…
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Chinese tourist falls from Kamala roof top
A 31 year old Chinese man, Gao Zhiyum, has died after falling from the 16 metre high rooftop of a villa in Kamala. The Chinese man was staying at the villa with 6 other people including his wife and friends. On Wednesday night (February 21) at about 11 pm, all 6 were drinking together on the rooftop until 1.40 am.…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, February 22
Opening day of Thailand Yacht Show | Prawit extends chat with NACC, again | Best & worst roads in Asia | Chonburi boy gets foot stuck in drain | TaT seeking assistance from counterparts in China to curb tourist behaviour | King Cobra season in Krabi | 4G speeds around the world | Latest in the Great Driveway Drama |…
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8 million baht budget approved for Government Stray Dog Shelter
An 8 million baht budget has been approved for a ‘dog condo’ and landscaping at the Phuket Government Stray Dog Shelter in Suan Pa Bang Kanun, Thalang. Phuket Lifestock Office Chief, Surajit Witchuwan, spoke about the improvements to the government dog shelter, a shelter located on 4 rai with about 500 dogs that has been opened since 2003 and was…
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Samkong landslide killed one worker, injures another
Yesterday’s (Wednesday) landslide occurred at the construction site of a clinic near Vachira Hospital where there is a 3-4 metre retaining wall. A team of police, rescue teams and a Vachira Hospital medical team tried to save a Myanmar worker, 22 year old Nay Sol Lin, by digging the soil around him and providing saline water. It took about 20…
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7 Krabi King cobras reported in one day – 5 captured and released
The Ao Luek Rescue Team in Krabi received a report last night (February 20) at 8.30 pm from 23 year old Nutchanart Bangyabyeo, saying that she found a 4 metre king cobra under the dish washing sink. The team put a snake catcher under the sink and the cobra showed up after 5 minutes. The team tried to capture it…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, February 21
Four die in a Krabi road smash | More of the Bangkok driveway-blocking drama | A BIG find on a Gulf beach | Suthep announces new political party | New engine-size tax for motorbikes | Government caves into power plant protesters.
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TAT seeks help to stop damage by Chinese tourists
Frequent cases of Chinese tourists damaging coral reefs and other fragile sea natural resources have prompted the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to seek help from its Chinese counterpart. Phanu Woramitr, director of the TAT office for Hat Yai, Songkhla and Satoon said on Tuesday that TAT has sent a letter to the Chinese tourism agency asking it to warn…
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Road closures for Old Phuket Town
Phuket municipality has announced road closures during the 19th Old Town festival and Chinese New Year celebrations. On February 21 to 23, from 3:00pm to midnight, the following roads are be closed: Thalang Road Soi Romanee Krabi Road, from the intersection of Thalang Road and Yaowarat Road until the Thai Hua Museum Soi Pradit Takuapa Road, from the intersection with Rassada…
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Worker dies, another injured, in Samkong worksite landslide
https://www.facebook.com/phuketgazette/videos/1620819127995909/ Emergency responders are working to extract a worker from a construction site in Samkong near Vachira Hospital this morning following a landslide. One worker died in the work-site landslide.
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Thailand Yacht Show 2018 – starts tomorrow (Thursday)
Some of the world’s most prestigious marine brands are assembling at the Ao Po Grand Marina for the third edition of the Thailand Yacht Show. It starts tomorrow (Thursday) and runs until Sunday. Buyers, charterers and locals are invited to climb aboard and experience the watercraft – superyachts, catamarans, sailboats, sports-fishers, dinghies, tenders, water sport boats and day cruisers, in…
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Four killed on a dangerous corner in Krabi
A pickup truck reportedly lost control on a curve, crossed the traffic island in the middle of the road and crashed into another pickup truck on the opposite lane, killing four people in Krabi province. The accident occurred last night on Phetchakasem Road, Nuaklong – Klongthom route. At the scene, Nuaklong police found a gray pickup truck with Phang Nga…
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Suthep’s party to support Prayut as post-election PM
From The Nation Suthep Thaugsuban, core leader of the now-defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), plans to found a political party to support Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha becoming premier after the next general election, a former Democrat party-list MP has claimed. Watchara Petchthong said on Tuesday that the party would be named the People’s Democratic Reform Committee Foundation, of…
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